Spindle



Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES SPINDLE Charles W. Moore, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Fletcher Works, Incorporated, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in selfbalancing spindles for twisters, spinners and the like, being especially useful in the cotton-type twisters where the spindle base is rigidly secured 5 to a heavy stationary spindle rail.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a structure wherein the oil for lubricating the spindle is maintained separated from the oil or other liquid used for cushioning the gymtions of the spindle blade thereby insuring that the lubricating oil will be kept clean and useful over a long period of time.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a reservoir or cup for the spindle lubricating oil, this cup being readily removable for changing the lubricating oil and cleaning the cup.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a space for cushioning liquid between the reservoir or cup for the spindle lubricating oil and the spindle base, this space being maintained out of communication with the reservoir or cup for the lubricating oil, the cup, bolster and spindle blade, however, having the desired freedom of motion and whereby they Will tend to be kept in a normal, central or vertical position.

In spindle structures heretofore employed the spindle blade rotates in a bolster which is nonrotatably mounted in a spindle base, the bolster vibrating very rapidly within the base due to the high speeds at which the spindle is driven. As a consequence the spindle lubricating oil soon becomes heated sufiiciently to break it down and impair its lubricating qualities. This necessitates frequent changing of the oil.

In the present invention, however, I provide a reservoir containing cushioning liquid for absorbing the vibrations of the bolster and spindle blade, this reservoir being maintained out of communication with the space containing the lubricating oil, so that the vibrations of the spindle blade and bolster will have no effect upon the lubricating oil at all.

Further objects of this invention will be manifest from the following description and accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of a spindle structure made in accordance with my invention; and

Figs. 2 to '7 inclusive are sectional elevations of modified structures.

Referring to the drawing in detail and first of all to the structure shown in Fig. 1: I designates a spindle base having a straight internal bore 2, the spindle base being screwthreaded at its lower 13, 1934, Serial No. 743,808

end for attachment to a stationary spindle rail (not shown). Extending into this bore 2 is a removable cup or reservoir 3 for containing spindle lubricating oil. This cup may be held against rotation relatively to the base by means of a key 4 received by a keyway 5 in the base, although good results have been obtained by omitting the key, etc. entirely. The upper end of this cup or reservoir extends above the top of the spindle base, so that the cup may be readily removed.

Mounted within the cup or reservoir 3 is a nonrotatable bolster 6. This bolster can be a press fit in the cup 3 or held against rotation in other suitable fashion.

Inasmuch as lubricating oil is kept in the reservoir or cup 3, and inasmuch as the bolster 6 extends into this reservoir and is provided with passageways 1 through its walls, it will be evident that the spindle blade 8, which rotates in the bolster, will be thoroughly lubricated, the oil circulating from the reservoir or cup 3 through the passages l in the walls of the bolster, up along the spindle blade, over the top of the bolster and back along the channel I to the reservoir 3 for recirculation. To insure that the oil will be returned to the reservoir 3 the upper end of the reservoir terminates above the upper end of the bolster, and the spindle blade is provided with an oil slinger 9 which is positioned just below the upper end of the reservoir.

The spindle blade is driven through the medium of a whorl l0 and belt I I in the usual manner.

In mounting the cup or reservoir 3 within the spindle base I leave a space l2 between the reservoir and the base for a cushioning liquid, such as lubricating oil, glycerin, water or any other suitable material, which is employed for the purpose of cushioning the gyrations or vibrations of the spindle blade and bolster. This cushioning liquid it will be appreciated allows the cup, bolster and spindle blade to have a certain amount of freedom of movement but at the same time tends to keep them in their normal, central or vertical position.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the present invention provides a cushioning material for cushioning the vibrations of the spindle blade, bolster and the cup or reservoir within which the bolster is mounted, this cushioning material being kept separate from the oil in the cup or reservoir and which lubricates the spindle, so that the lubricating qualities of the oil are not impaired.

In the form of my invention thus far described it will be noted that the bore 2 and the outside wall of the reservoir 3 are both cylindrical thereby providing the same clearance throughout their length so that the upper end of the cup or reservoir 3 can move as far to the left as the lower end moves to the right and the center about which the maximum oscillation must take place is midway between the top and bottom.

In the form shown in Fig. 2 the top of the cup or reservoir 3- is rounded to provide a spherical bearing I3 for the cup, so that the center of oscil-, lation has been moved to the top of the cup.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 3 the bore in the spindle base is straight but the cup 3 tapers toward its lower end whereby greater clearance is provided between the lower end of the cup and the bore of the spindle base, so that the'center of oscillation, while below that shown in Fig. 2 is above the midway point of Fig. 1.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 4 the cup 3 is tapered in the opposite direction whereby the center of oscillation is below the midway point.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 5 the bore in the base l tapers toward the top, while cup or reservoir 3 is straight sided.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 6 the bore in the base l as well as the wall of the cup or reservoir 3 both taper outwardly and upwardly, at the same angle, while in the form shown in Fig. '7 the tapers although in the same direction are at different angles, the taper of the bore in the base I being greater than the taper of the cup 3 I It is to be noted thatin the forms shown in Figs. 2 and '7 the cup or reservoir is not keyed or otherwise secured to the spindle base, as distinguished from the form shown in Fig. 1.

It will be appreciated that my improved spindle structure will be advantageous in many respects over structures at present employed. For example, the lubricating oil is not subjected to the vibrations of the spindle blade and bolster to the same extent as in prior structures and hence will not be broken down as rapidly; the cup or reservoir can be lifted out of the spindle base at any time for cleaning purposes and for renewal of the oil.

It is to be appreciated also that I need not necessarily employ oil in the cushioning chamber but that less expensiveliquid suitable for this purpose may beemployed, and whether or not 50.

this cushioning liquid becomes oxidized is of little or no importance inasmuch as it is at all times separated from the lubricating oil.,

I do not wish to be limited to the precise structures herein illustrated and described inasmuch as various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:-- 1

1. A spindle structure comprising in combination a spindle base having a bore of uniform diameter, a removable cup extending into said base, said cup having a uniform diameter imperforate exterior wall, cushioning liquid between the outside of the cup and the inside of the spindle base, lubricating oil within said cup, a bolster secured within said cup by a press fit near the upper end thereof, a spindle blade rotatable in said bolster, the wall of said bolster being provided with lubricant ports for the passage of lubricating oil from the cup to the spindle, and a relatively large body of comparatively undisturbed oil below the lowest of said ports,v the said bolster terminating short of the top of said cup whereby the lubricating oil is maintained out of contact with the cushioning liquid. f

2. A spindle structure comprising in combina. tion a spindle blade, a bolster carrying said blade and in which the blade is rotatable, an imperforate cup supporting the bolster and extending above the top thereof, a spindle base supporting the cup, spindle oil in said cup for lubricating said blade, a cushioning liquid in said base between the base and cup for cushioning said cup, the cushioning liquid being kept out of contact with the spindle oil.

3. A spindle structure comprising in combination a spindle blade, 21. bolster member having CHARLES W. MOORE. 5 

